Fountain pen



I Nov. 14, 1944.

' Filed NOV; 24,1943

W. D. TEAGUE ET AL FOUNTAIN PEN N v-14,1944- w. D. T EAGUE Em 2,362,948

FOU NTAIN PEN Filed Nov. 24, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. D. TEAGUE ET AL Nov. 14, 1944;

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Nov. 24', 1945 z Sheets-Sheet. s

pmie ua. 14. 194 2,362,948

Walter Dorwin Teague, River Farm, and Walter Dorwin Teague, J12, Alpine, N. J.,'and- Stowe Myers and Douglas D. Andrews, New York, N; Y., asslgnors to W. A. Sheafler Pen Com- Delaware Fort -Madlson, Iowa,' a corporation of Application November 24, 1943, Serial No. 511,524

I g 14 Claims. This invention relatesto-a fountain pen and has special reference to a fountain pen of the so-called sacless type in which the writing point is housed and is thereby sealed apartfrom the atmosphere by means which are not detachable from the barrel of the fountain pen but have relative movement therewith. v

More particularlythis invention relates to" a. fountain pen comprising a barrel having a writing point and a fluid feeding mechanism extendend. Since the present invention contemplates the elimination of a detachable cap and since the clip is usually permanently fixed to the cap,

the clip in the instance of the present pen is ing from one end thereof with an open-ended casing movable on the barrel selectively to house and to expose the writing point, there being means in the open end of the casing actuated by the relative movement between the barrel and.

casing to seal the open ,end when the writing point is housed. I

There is need in a great number of instances for a fountain pen of a type to accommodate a user who has one hand occupied at the time he must make a written record. In the use of an ordinary pocket fountain pen, it is practically impossible or at least very inconvenient to unscrew the cap and place it'on the barrel end opposite the writing point with only one free hand. For example, in telephoning one often has need for writing and in the case of a fountain pen of "the pocket type it must be withdrawn from the pocket, the cap removed and placedon the end opposite to the writing point end for use in writing while one hand is occupied in holding the receiverto the ear. Similarly in the case of a reporter where notes must be made with a note book in one hand while attemptingto adjust the fountain pen with the other hand. The present fixed to the writing point end of the pen substantially at the-gripping portion thereof. It is, of course, not desirable to have any projections on the gripping portion while the pen is held in a writing position, yet in order to hold a fountain pen in a pocket the clip must extend beyond the confines of the portion to which his affixed.

The present invention provides that the clip be seated in a recess when in the normal writing position of the fountain pen and be extended from that'recess automatically by relative movement of the elements of the fountain pen when it is moved into a closed position.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a fountain pen of the character described, above which is simple in construction, eflicient in operation and is durable.

, A further object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen of the character referred to above in which the writing point is retracted and is sealed apart from the atmosphere when in one position and is extended to a writing position by a simple relative movement of elements of the Q tain pen to the pocket or the like is received in invention contemplates the elimination of the necessity for using both hands in adjusting the fountain pen from a closed position to a writing position, by meansof a simple relative movement between the two elements of the fountain pen. It is notnecessary to remove the cap from the -writing-point end and place it on the barrel end.

There is no removable or detachable cap which may become accidentally displaced and possibly lost.

It is desirable in carrying a fountain pen about the person that the writing point end is held upwardly, and thus the clip, which is usually provided for preventing accidental loss of a fountain pen, is positioned adjacent the writing point fountain pen.

Also, it is an object of this invention to;provide a fountain pen of the type referred to above in which the clip for detachably securing the founa recess for use in a writing condition of the fountain penand is moved automatically to an extended position when the writing point is housed.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may be had to the following description when read together with the accompanying drawings,

- in which latter:

Figure 1 is a face elevational view of the fountain pen incorporating, the features of this invention, the device being shown in writing position Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showingthe stantially enlarged, showing a portion of the fountain pen at the writing point end thereof in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation al view of Fig. 2, substantiallyenlarged, showing a portion at the writing point end thereof in section;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a changed position of the writing point end of the fountain pen;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the. line 3-3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig, 3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-4 of Fig.3;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken Ilil0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a sectional viewtaken on the line ll-ll of Fig, 3;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on l2-l2 of Fig.5;

Fig. 13 is a sectional I3|3ofFig.5;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on .the line ll-Il of Fig. 5;

on 'the line the line view taken on the line Fig. 15 is'a sectional view taken on the line/ II--l5ofFig.5;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line l6--lBofFig.5'; I

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the ball seal and operating means therefor;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 1'7 showing a changed position thereof; and Fig.'19 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing a still further changed position thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the present invention is shown as being embodied in a fountain pen having a barrel 2!! preferably formed of plastic, hard rubber, metal orany similar rigid material. A writing point 2| and fluid feeding mechanism 22 extend from one end of the barrel 20.

The writing point 2| is shown as having a tubular shank which surrounds and is aflixed to the head portion of a plug 23, shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the reduced shank portion of the plug being externally threaded to engage internal threads of a sleeve 24. The sleeve 24, in

turn, frictionally engages the bore of the barrel 20 at the open end thereof.

The fluid feeding mechanism 22 comprises an enlarged head having a reduced shank engaging the bore of the plug 23,- the head and shank porsible to provide a relatively thin wall to reduce to a minimum the diameter of the pen as a whole as will presently appear. The outer casing has slidable movement both longitudinally and rotatably'about the axis of the barrel.

An internal sleeve 30' is disposed between the outer casing 29 and the barrel 20, the sleeve extending from adjaeentjzhe writing point end of the outer casing to a point intermediate the length thereof. The inner sleeve is preferably formed of metal for the same reasons as given with respect to the outer casing 29 although any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material may be satisfactoril'y employed. One end of the inner sleeve 30 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 3| which forms a seat for receiving an axially apertured sealing member or ball '32.

The ball 32 is rotatably supported on trunnions 33 having a threaded shank portion 34, threadedly engaging apertures on diametrically opposed sides of the ball and having head portions 35 seated in apertures adjacent the writing point end of the outer casing 29. The ball 32 is thus permitted rotatable movement about the 'trunnions 33 at the end of the outer casing 29, the spherical surface of the ball 32 being seated in this rotative ,r'novement on the flange 3| of the inner sleeve 30. A cap 36 is provided with in-' 5 of'the drawings, it will be noted that the ball 32 tions of the fluid feeding mechanism 22 being provided with laterally extendin comb cuts 23 and a longitudinally extending fissure 26 communicating with the comb cuts and with the writing point 2i for directing writing fluid from the reservoir 21 of the barrel to a writing surface. The reservoir 21 is filled with writing fluid in any usual manner, there being a plunger assembly 28 shown in the drawings for longitudinal movement in the reservoir to create a pressure differ ential for causing the reservoir to be filled with writing fluid. The plunger assembly just described and the operation thereof is more clearly set out in the patent to W. A. Sheai'ier, No. Re. 19,530, dated April 9, 1935.

An open ended casing 29 is movably mounted on the barrel 20, the casing being preferably formed of metal although" any rigid or substantially rigid material may be employed. Metal is selected for this purpose because of its being posoccupies two different positions, one in which the aperture is coaxial with the axis of the fountain pen'so as to present an opening through which the writing point 2| is extended in writing as in Fig. 3. The other position of the ball 32 shows the writing point as being retracted and sealed apart from the atmosphere, the aperture extending transversely to the axis of the fountain pen.

In order to obtain the two positions mentioned above; that is, where the pen is extended through the aperture into normal writing position and where the pen is retracted and sealed to be carried in a pocket, a pin- 31 is disposed off-center relative to the fulcrums '33. on the surface of the ball 32 and engages a slot 38 in the flange 3|. Referring now particularly 'to Figs. 17, 18, and 19 of the drawings, the position of the ball in Fig. 17 corresponds to that in Fig. 4, and the position of the ball in Fig. 19 corresponds to that of Fig. 5, whereby Fig. 17 shows an open position and Fig. 19 shows a closed position with Fig. 18 showing an intermediate position. A rotation, therefore, of the inner sleeve 30 moves the ball to either .open or closed position, the movement beingthrough an arc of approximately The barrel is provided with an L-shaped groove'having a longitudinal extending leg 39 for receiving 8. lug 40 fixed to and extending radially inwardly from the inner sleeve 30 and a second lug 4I- fixed to and extending radially inwardly .from the outer casing 29. The lug 4| extends through a transverse slot 42 in the inner sleeve 30 thereby fixing the inner sleeve and outer casing against relative longitudinal movement therebetween. The groove 39 in the barrel guides the outer casing 29 and inner sleeve 30 in a 1ongitudinal movement thereon. While the inner sleeve and outer casing are fixed against relative longitudinal movement the slot "permits relacasing the ball 32 is moved from a closed to an barrel has relative longitudinal movement with respect to both the inner sleeve and outer casing 29 while the inner sleeve 30 has relative rotatable movement with respect to the outer casing 29.

- The fountain pen in a normal retracted and sealed condition in readiness for being carried in the pocket of the user is 'shown in Fig. 5. The

lug. 4|, extending radially inwardly from the outer casing, occupies a position at the end of the slot 42 opposite to theend in alignment to the slot 39 of thebarrel 20, the lug 40 remaining seated in the groove '39 adjacent to the transverse slot 42. The lug 4| also extends through the slot 42 into the transversely extending portion 39a of the L-shaped groove in the barrel.

When it is desired to project the writing point for use in writing, a relative longitudinal movement between the inner sleeve 30 and the outer casing 29 through an-armof about 90 carries the lug 4| into alignment with the groove 39. Thereafter a relative longitudinal movement of the inner sleeve 30 and theouter casing 29 with respect to the barrel 20 projects the pen through the aperture ofthe ball 32 to the position shown namely, one, to rotate'the ball 32 to an open'or closed position, two, to extend the clip from a position within the confines of the casing to a position outside the confines thereof, and three, to lock the pen in position against relative longi tudinal movement between the barrel and'the a outer casing to which latter the inner sleeve is fixed.

The inner sleeve 39 is provided with a series of corrugations 48 in spaced relation adjacent the I writing point end thereof for receiving relatively soft rubber portions." surrounding'the barrel 20; The soft rubber portions are shaped to conform somewhat in outline to the corrugations and provide a sealed relation between the pen and the sleeve and also to frictionally hold the sleeve and the barrel in a position against accidental displacement. I

While but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparentto those skilled in the art within Fig. 3. During "the initial rotational movement of the inner sleeve with respect to the outer open position to permit the succeeding longitudinal movement to project the writing point out of the aperture of the ball.

, When it is desired to retract the writing pointinto a sealed position within thecasing and inner sleeve, a relative longitudinal movement is produced betweenthe barrel and the fixed inner sleeve and' casing members until the pin 4| is in alignment with the transverse slot 42 whereafter the rotational movement previously recited moves the lug 4| to the end of the transverse slot 42 and groove 39a .to the-position shown in Fig. 5'

wherein the several parts are locked against relative longitudinal movement.

When the pen is in position for writing it is desirable that the clip thereof be received in a recess so as not to obstruct the gripping portion of the pen and thereby to avoid discomfort in writing. A clip 43 of any usual type is fixed to the outer casing 29, .the clip being provided with spaced ears 44 which extend through spaced apertures in a depressed portion of the outer casing 29, the ears being bent over behind the material between the slots to form a cleat.

.The endof-the'clip opposite to the end carrying the ears 44 is provided with a head 45, as

is usual in clips, for facilitating the entrance of the cloth or other'material of a pocket or the like underneath the head of theclip and thus between it and the wall of the casing. In writing position the bead45 is seated in a depression 46 in the wall of the outer casing 29 so that the clip occupies aposition substantially within the confines of the casing to thus present a smooth conout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and,'therefore, the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims. a

We claim:

1. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel having a writing point and fluid feeding mechanism extending from one end thereof, an outer open ended casing movable on said barrel selectively to house and to expose sai-d writing point, a clip mounted on said casing adjacent the writing point end of said barrel and extensible from a position substantially within the confines of said casing to a position outside the confines thereof, and means in said open end actuated by said relative movement between said barrel and said casing to seal said.

' said writingpoint is housed, saidclip being actutinuous surface on the gripping portion of the pen. When it is desired to carry the pen in a pocket the clip is extended outside the confines of the casing by means of the head 45 riding out of the recess 46 and on top of an arcuate projection 4'! as shown more particularly in Fig. 14. This movement to extend the clip outside the confines of the casing is furnished by the relative longitudinal movement between the outer casing and 4 fluid feeding mechanism extending from one end the inner sleeve to move the ball 32 from its open to its closed position;, Thus the relative rotational movement between theinner sleeve and the outer casing has a three-fold function ated in its said positions by said relative movement between said'barrel and said casing. v

3. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel having a writing point and fiuidfeeding mechanism extending from one end thereof, an open-ended casing movable on said barrel selectively to house and to expose said writihg point, means for directing relative longitudinal and rotational movement between said casing and said barreLand means in said open end actuated-by said relative rotational movement between sai-d barrel and said-casing to seal said open end when said writingpoint'is housed by said relative longitudinal movement. 4. A fountain pen' of the character described comprising a barrel havinga writing point and thereofflan L-shapedgrqove in the sufface of said barrel, an open-ended casing movable longitudinally and rotatably on said barrel selectively to-house and to expose said writing point, a projection on saidgcasing engaging said groove to direct said longitudinal and rotatable movement,

and means in said open end actuated by said relative movement between said barrel and said casing to seal said open end when said writing point is housed.

5. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel having a writing point and fluid feeding mechanism extending from one end thereof, a sleeve slidable longitudinally on said barrel, an outer open-ended casing on said sleeve, said casing and said sleeve having relative rotatable movement therebetween and being slidable longitudinally together selectively to house and to expose said writing point, and means in said open end actuated by said relative rotatable movement between said barrel and said sleeve' to seal said open end when said writings-point is housed.

6. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel having a writing point and l fluid feeding mechanism extending from one end thereof, a sleeve slidable longitudinally on said barrel, a seat at the end of said sleeve, an outer open-ended casing on said sleeve, said casing and said sleeve having relative rotatable movement therebetween and being slidable longitudinally t0- gether selectively to house and to expose said comprising a barrel having a writing point and.

fluid feeding mechanism extending from one end thereof, a sleeve slidable longitudinally on said barrel, the end of said sleeve being formed to provide an arcuate seat, an outer open-ended casing on said sleeve, said casing and said sleeve having relative rotatable movement therebetween and being slidable longitudinally together selectively to house and to expose said writing point,"

and an apertured ball in said open end, opposed gitudinally together selectively to house and to expose said writing point, a clip mounted on said .casing and received at least in part by said recess, and means in said openend actuated by said relative rotatable movement between said barrel and said sleeve to seal said open end when said writing point is housed, said clip being 'moved out of engagement with said recess and into engagement with said projection by said relative rotatable movement between said barrel and said casing.

10. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel having a writing point and fluid feeding mechanism extending from one end thereof, a sleeve slidable longitudinally on said barrel, a recess in said sleeve, an outer openended casing on said sleeve, said casing and said sleeve having relative rotatable movement therebetweenv and being slidable longitudinally together selectively to house and to expose said writing point, a clip mounted on said casing and received at least in part by said recess, and

means in said open end actuated by said relative barrel, a detent on said sleeve, an outer open-' ended casing on said sleeve, said casing and said sleeve havingrelative rotatable movement therebetween and being slidable longitudinally together'selectively tohouse and to expose said writing point, a clip mounted on said casing and 40 engaged by said detent, said clip being extensible trunnions on said ball for the rotatable support thereof, said ball engaging said seat and bein rotated on said trunnions by said relative rotat able movement between said barrel and said sleeve to seal said open end when said writing point is housed.

-8. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel having a writing poirit and trunnions on said ball for the rotatable support thereof, a pin oflset with respect to the axis of said trunnions for engaging the slot of said flange, said ball being rotatable from a position wherein said aperture thereof is coaxial with respect; to said barrel to a transverse position by said relative rotatable movement between said, barrel and said sleeve to expose and to seal said writing point, 9. A- fountain pen of the character described comprising, a barrel having a writing point and fluid feeding mechanism extending from one end thereof, a sleeve slidable longitudinally'on said barrel, a recess and a projection on safd sleeve, ari outer open-ended casing on said sleeve, said casing and said sleeve having relative rotatable movement therebetween and being slidable Ion-- from a, position substantially within the confines of said casing to a position outside the confines thereof, and means in said open end actuated by said relative rotatable movement between said barrel and said sleeve to seal said open end when said writing point is, housed, said clip being disengaged from said detent and actuated into an extended condition by, said relative movement between said barrel and said casing.

12. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel having a, writing 'point and fluid feeding mechanism extending from one end thereof, guiding means onsaid barrel, a sleeve slidable longitudinally on said barrel, an outer open-ended casing on said sleeve, said casing and said sleeve having relative rotatable movement therebetween and means on said sleeve and casing associated with said guiding means for directing, longitudinal movement of said sleeve and easing selectively to house and -to expose'said writing point, and means in said open end actuated by said relative rotatable movement between said barrel and said sleeve to seal said open end when said writing point is housed. p 1 1 13'. A fountain pen of the character-described comprising a grooved barrel having a writing point and fluid feeding mechanism extending therebetween,

from one end thereof, a slotted sleeve slidable longitudinally on said barrel, an outer openended casing on saidsleeve, a projection on said casing extending through theslot of said sleeve for permitting relative rotatable movement said projection engaging, said groove to direct slidable movement of said sleeve and easing longitudinally of said barrel selectively to house and to expose said writing point,

and means in said open end actuated by said relative rotatable movement between said barrel and said sleeve to seal said open end when said writing point is housed.

14. A fountain pen of comprising fluid feeding mechanism from one end an L-shaped'slot on the a slotted sleeve slidable longitudinally the character described a barrel having a writing point and thereof,

surface of said barrel,

on said barrel, an outer open-ended casing on said sleeve, a projection on said casing extending through the slot of said sleeve into said L -shaped WALTER DORWIN TEAGUE. WALTER DORWIN TEAGUE, vJR. STOWE MYERS.

DOUGLAS D. ANDREWS.

together selectively to 

